Pressing head mounting and moving means



Jan. 10, 1950 o, PEARSON 2,493,997

PRESSING HEAD MOUNTING AND MOVING MEANS Original Filed April 2, 1945 2 She ts-Sheet 1 Illllll IN V EN TOR.

0. H. PEARSON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 055 JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1950 PRESSING HEAD MOUNTING AND MOVING MEANS Original Filed April 2, 1945.

5. g 2 i5: 1 g am" will 7 Patented Jan. 10, 1950 PRESSING HEAD MOUNTING AND MOVING MEANS Otto H. Pearson, Salt Lake City, Utah, 'assignor to Louis N. Strike, Salt Lake City, Utah Original application April 2, 1945, Serial No.

586,053. Divided and this application Decemher 12, 1946, Serial No. 715,688

This invention relates to shirt pressing machines and deals more particularly with a pressing head therefor and means effecting the movement of said pressing head relative to a buck. The present invention is a division of my co-pending application entitled Shirt pressing machine, Serial Number 586,053, filed April 2, 1945.

The present invention involves novel and improved mechanism efiecting the movement of a pressing head relative to an upright or substantially upright buck, an example of which is disclosed in the mentioned co-pending application wherein a pressing head is moved relative to a pair of bucks, alternately to perform a pressing operation upon a garment on each buck.

The primary object of the present invention is to move an upright pressing head into pressing relation with an upright buck in a non-sliding manner and thereby perform creaseless and foldless pressing of a garment on said buck.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for supporting a substantially upright pressing head for lateral movement relative to a buck so as to effect non-slidable pressing engagement of the pressing head and the buck.

Another object of the invention is to provide pressing head mounting and moving means as indicated in which the pressing head is pivotally and resiliently mounted to uniformly press against a buck for efficient pressing.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

' Fig. l is a broken vertical sectional view of a pressing machine embodying the pressing head mounting and moving means of the present in-' vention, the pressing head being shown in nonpressing position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the pressing head in pressing position.

6 Claims. (Cl. 38-36) Fig. 3 is a rear view as seen in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is. an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on 'theline '4-4 of Fig. 2.

Generally, the pressing machine which is illustrated comprises amachine frame in which mounts a steam receiving and conducting column H which carries a pair of bucks of which the buck i2 is typical, a rotary base l3-by means of which the column and the bucks are rotated on a vertical axis, a pressing head [-4, means l5 mounting said pressing head, and means [6 for moving the latter relative to the bucks. The frame It, column H,.bucks l2 and rotary base It are more fully described: in the mentioned co-pending application and, per' se, form no part of the present invention.

The pressing head l4 comprises a pressing plate [1' and a spacedrear plate to form, therebetween, a steam chest receiving pressing steam through a connection i9. A drain 2|! for the resulting" condensate is provided. In other respects the pressing head I4 is as describedin the prior application.

The means [5 comprises agenerally vertically disposed lever 22 mounted ona pivot shaft 23 journaled' in the frame lllbetween the walls 25 thereof. The leverv 22is=of the first class of levers with a pressing head mounting pin 26 at one end and a connecting pin 21 at the other for the moving means I6: The pressing head It is connected to the lever 22 through the medium of a link 28.

The link 28, atone end is connected to the pin 26 and; at the other, is provided with a transversely disposed plate" 29 which, generally centrally, has a rounded part 30 that bears against a seat 3| on the pressing head. A floating connection at the four corners of the plate 29 to the pressing. head 14 is provided. As shown, said connection consists of headed studs 32 on the pressing head extending through clearance holes 33 in the plate? 29 and. compression springs 34 between the headsof the studs andtheplate 29. It will be evident that theipressinghead I4 is mounted for limited universal movement with. respect to the link 28; thatv movement. of saidlink in the direction ofa buck l2 will be positive through themedium of the part 30 and seat 3| and that uniform pressure between the pressing head and the buck is efiected through the medium of the floating mounting. of the former on studs 32.

Becanse of the vertical disposition of. the press-- ing head'and because of thepin 26 ishorizontal,

3 said pressing head will normally fall or sag, avitationally. Means are provided for supportin the pressing head for movement in an upright position toward the buck l2. As shown, said means consists of a rod 35 carried on a pivot 36 by the link 28 and adjustable for length by means of its threaded end 31. A nut 38 locks the adjustment. A thimble 39, pivoted on a pin 40 between the frame walls 25, is provided with a seat 4! for the lower end of the rod 35. said rod, normally, being adjusted to bottom in said seat and thereby maintain the pressing head l4 in a desired upright condition. I r

The means l6 consists of a prime mover 42, a pair of toggle links 43 and 44 connecting the pin 21 and a fulcrum 45 in the machine frame,

a fixed cam 46, a lever 41 at a pivot 48 betweenthe links 43 and 44 and having roller bearings 49 connected with the prime mover 42, and return springs 59 connected between the pin 21 and anchor studs in the machine frame 10.

The prime mover 42 consists of a cylinder 52 mounted to rock on a ball and socket device 53 carried by a cross plate 54 by the machine frame, a piston 55 in the cylinder, a piston rod 56 extending upwardly through the cylinder, and a compression spring 51 around the piston rod 56 between the bearings 49 and the upper end of the cylinder. The cam 46 is provided with generally straight cam parts 58 and concavely curved cam parts 59 against which the bearings 49 bear.

In operation, starting with the position of parts as in Fig. 1, admission of fluid pressure in cylinder 52 will project the piston rod 56 so that the bearings 49 will travel along the cam parts 58 and cause the" lever 41 to straighten the toggle links 43 and 44. As a result, the lever 22 is rocked on its fulcrum 23 to move its upper end and, therefore, the link 28 toward the buck l2. The rod 35 will rock on its pivot 40 to maintain the pressing head M on said link 28 in upright position until the pressing head attains physical contact with the buck or with a garment thereon. This engagement is quite rapid and is achieved during movement of the bearings 49 along the cam parts 58. Said bearings then leave said cam parts and ride the concave cam parts 59 for a slower continued movement of the lever 22 to exert pressing pressure on the buck I 2. It is then that the rod 35 may leave the bottom of the seat 4| as a result of the generally straight-line movement of the pressing head l4 and of the arcuate movement of the upper end of the lever 22. This condition is revealed by comparing the included angle between the lever 22 and link 28 in Figs. 1 and 2. Inasmuch as the links 43 and 44 are not permitted to move beyond a dead center condition, upon release of fluid pressure in the prime mover, the springs 50 become effective to return the parts from their pressing position of Fig. 2 to their initial position of Fig.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of, the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism of the character described comprising a fixed frame, a substantially upright pressing head, a member connected to the pressing head for limited universal movement of the latter, an operating lever pivotally connected to said member to move the same and the pressing head thereon toward and from a pressing position, a pivotal mounting on the frame for the lever, and means supporting the pressing head for substantially straight-line movement during arcuate movement of the operating lever on its pivot, said latter means comprising an adjustably ,elongatable member connected to the pressing head-carrying member and mounted on the frame to pivot in the direction of movement of the operating lever.

2. Mechanism of the character described comprising a fixed frame, a substantially upright pressing head, a member connected to the pressing head for limited universal movement of the latter, an operating lever pivotally connected to said member to move the same and the pressing head thereon toward and from a pressing position, a pivotal mounting on the frame for the lever, and means supporting the pressing head for substantially straight-line movement during arcuate movement of the operating lever on its pivot, said latter means comprising a pivot on the pressing head-supporting member, a rod adjustable for length on said pivot, and a thimble pivotally mounted on the frame and having a seat for the end of said rod.

3. In a pressing'machine having a frame and a buck, a pressing head, a pivoted arm, a member extending from the head and pivotally connected to said arm, means for moving the arm to move the head toward-and from the buck, and two-part telescopic means having one part pivotally mounted on the frame and the other pivotally connected to said member for supporting said member during movement thereof, said telescopic means, when the head and buck are in pressing engagement, elongating during continued pivotal movement of the head-mounting arm to non-slidably press the head against the uck.

4. In a pressing machine having a frame and a buck, a pressing head, a pivoted arm, a member extending from the head and pivotally con- 7 nected to said arm, means for moving the arm to move the head toward and from the" buck, a length-adjustable rod pivotally connected to said member between its pivot and the pressing head, and an element pivoted on the frame and having a seat for the end of said rod, said rod bottoming in said seat to support said member and the head thereon during movement of the arm and the head to pressing position, said rod end separating from the bottom ofv the seat when the head and buck are in pressing engagement during continued pivotal movement of the headmounting arm to non-slidablyfpress the head against the buck. 5

5. In a pressing machine having a frame and a buck, a pressing head, a pivoted arm, a member extending from the head and pivotally connected to said arm, a connection between the head and member whereby the former is mounted for limited universal movement to obtain a flat engage- 4 ment with the buck, means for moving the arm to move the head toward and from the buck, and two-part telescopic means having one part pivotally mounted on the frame and the other pivotally connected to said member for supporting said member during movement thereof, said telea buck, a pressing head, a pivoted arm, a member extending from the head and pivotally connected to said arm, a connection between the head and member whereby the former is mounted for limited universal movement to obtain a flat engagement with the buck, means for moving the arm to move the head toward and from the buck, a length-adjustable rod pivotally connected to said member between its pivot and the pressing head, and an element pivoted on the frame and having a seat for the end of said rod, said rod bottoming in said seat to support said member and the head thereon during movement of the arm and the head to pressing position, said rod end separating from the bottom of the seat when the head and buck are in pressing engagement during continued pivotal movement of the headmounting arm to non-slidably press the head against the buck.

O'I'I'O H. PEARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,041 Raynolds Feb. 24, 1942 1,202,358 Braley Oct. 24, 1916 1,600,211 Benjamin Sept. 21, 1926 1,660,744 Davis Feb. 28, 1928 1,698,954 Lindy Jan. 15, 1929 1,777,705 Stetten Oct. 7, 1930 1,851,484 Bausman Mar. 29, 1932 1,923,494 Manchester Aug. 22, 1933 2,003,501 Davis et a1 June 4, 1935 2,037,550 Visscher Apr. 14, 1936 2,241,373 Rawlinson et al May 6, 1941 2,288,778 Bradley July 7, 1942 

